The cost of cars for Malawi Electoral Commisssion commissioners
Govvernment has spent over K800 million to buy 10 by 4 vehicles for Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) commissioners, replacing the old fleet that was supposed to be changed in 2013.
While the Commissioners are entitled to the vehicles, the cost is mind-blowing, especially at a time when government is struggling financially and failing to deliver essential services like medicines in hospitals, school books, and when pupils across the country are still learning under trees.
A quick check at Toyota Malawi in Blantyre where the vehicles were procured from shows that the cheapest low specs Prado is going at K80 million, duty paid.
A Toyota Prado TXL Automatic Transmission is at K82, 246, 500 while a Toyota Prado TXL Manual Transmission is going at K80, 116, 000.
According to a vehicle sales officer Malawi News talked to, all the vehicles have all the full house features.
Earlier this year, Mec Chairperson Jane Ansah told the Parliamentary Committee on Government Assurances and Public Service Reforms that one of the biggest challenges that the commission was facing in its preparations for the forthcoming tripartite elections was transport.
The 10 Toyota Land Cruisers that government had bought were taken by former commissioners in line with their conditions of service.
Chairperson of the commission’s Finance and Administration Committee, Linda Kunje, confirmed to Malawi News that government has finally provided funds for the procurement of the vehicles. She, however, did not say how much the vehicles cost.
Judge Ansah could not say how much the vehicle cost when asked on yesterday. She asked Malawi News to check with a Mr Potani and the Director of Communications at MEC, Sangwani Mwafulirwa. Both could not be reached on phone.
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